WASHINGTON — Africa must improve security cooperation in battling extremists or face the prospect of a continent-wide terror network threatening the region and the United States, a top US commander warned Wednesday.

General Carter Ham, head of US African command AFRICOM, said countries in North Africa face increasing threats from terrorist groups like Al-Qaeda affiliates who wish to join forces -- as well as from extremists in Libya who might fan out to other locales, bringing a proliferation of weapons and an exodus of people from the war-torn country.

"Al-Qaeda main may be somewhat diminished, but the affiliates, both acknowledged and those who would like to be affiliated, may be gaining in capacity. And that's what I see in Africa and that's what concerns me," Ham told reporters in Washington.

He said three groups form the greatest threat: the Algeria-based Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM), which has claimed numerous terrorist attacks in the region; the militant Shebab operating out of Somalia and East Africa; and Islamist group Boko Haram, blamed for repeated attacks in Nigeria including a bomb blast at UN headquarters in Abuja in August.

"Each of those three independently I think presents a significant threat, not only in the nations in which they primarily operate, but regionally, and I think they present a threat to the United States," Ham said.

The organizations have "very explicitly and publicly" voiced intent to target the West, and while Ham said he questions their capability to do so, "I have no question about their intent to do so."

He also warned that the groups have expressed intent to "more closely collaborate and synchronize their efforts" in training and operations.

"If left unaddressed, you could have a network that ranges from East Africa, through the center and into the Sahel and Magreb, and I think that would be very, very worrying."

Ham said US cooperation with regional partners was vital, and that while African nations must take the lead, Washington is providing assistance to countries like Mali.

But when pressed on specifics of US operations, including the possible use of military drones over Somalia, Ham was dry on the details.

"I like the fact that Al-Shebab and other extremist leaders in some parts of the world don't know where we are, what we might do, what we are doing, what we're not doing," he said.

As far as they are concerned there's no such thing as a 'Sovereign Nation' in Africa.

They will invade for any flimsy reason citing 'the war on terror'.

This is a big shame on the govt, army and security forces in Nigeria.

But maybe its just part of the 'A.G.E.N.D.A

Nigerians are too used to scattering emotions in the wind.

Make some sense, bro. The present govt is very new and the army and security agencies weren't created yesterday either, so why blame them?If we say the police is useless, is it actually its fault that it is useless? Or are we better served by going right back to the genesis of its uselessness so that we can pinpoint the root causes and perpetrators with laser like accuracy?The same goes for the army too, we need to know how it got to be so ethnically and religiously lopsided in a secular country that has a federal character policy.The very same shabby policies have driven us to allow the likes of Shell give us any figure for barrels drilled per day; up till recently, we were the only country that didn't give a damn about national income; all for an envelope under the table, lets find out how that began as well.

What you have failed to mention, and the biggest bogey man of the lot, is the part the insidious creeping of extremist Islam into Nigeria has played; not stopping there, into government as well. Religion has become a political tool. It would be useful too, to establish the genesis of that problem and how it has morphed into boko haram which in turn is morphing into al qaeda.Yar Adua's NSA is rumoured to have had links to extremist religion. Nuff said.

Seek out the genesis and you will get all solutions.

I have merely skimmed the surface of the deep and fundamental questions we need to ask ourselves to chart a way forward.If the Americans come in, it is because we have been cracking our does wide open, not yesterday, but for decades now. We learnt nothing from the Civil War, or perhaps, we learnt the wrong lessons of "winner takes takes all, sod the weak." There should be few surprises now that the rooster is coming home to roost.

I started by saying that Nigerians are too used to scattering emotions in the wind. Yes, and the biggest enemy which is the one within knows this too, cos they too are Nigerian, not American. They know it and use it against us, we like a good scream, so we join them while they phuck us from the left; the day we Nigerians learn to apply the principles of Critical Thinking is the day we will finally be free.

How many of us in Nigeria know that the US government is planing to take over Africa's wealth and remove by any means all who oppose or don't oppose to get at what ever they think they should have? While everyone is glad to see a person of color in the white house (Barack Obama) this is a great deception as part of the plan to continue to go under cover of so-called help to Africa by U.S. military forces to take oil and any thing else without the people of the land receiving anything but death for their land. The code name is "Africom"! This should be our major concern, there is nothing more pressing at this point in time of our collective history. Don't let yourself and other family members be hoodwinked into continuing to fight a War that is not ours as we have been doing for the past 500 years, helping a enemy destroy what is our own. Many will perish opposing Africom and other diabolical plans that have been made in secret.

How many of us in Nigeria know that the US government is planing to take over Africa's wealth and remove by any means all who oppose or don't oppose to get at what ever they think they should have? While everyone is glad to see a person of color in the white house (Barack Obama) this is a great deception as part of the plan to continue to go under cover of so-called help to Africa by U.S. military forces to take oil and any thing else without the people of the land receiving anything but death for their land. The code name is "Africom"! This should be our major concern, there is nothing more pressing at this point in time of our collective history. Don't let yourself and other family members be hoodwinked into continuing to fight a War that is not ours as we have been doing for the past 500 years, helping a enemy destroy what is our own. Many will perish opposing Africom and other diabolical plans that have been made in secret.

The US is already our biggest oil customer, so your story doesn't wash. The likes of Chevron are US companies as well.The only thing that upsets the US is if there is a threat to its business with Nigeria. There is no part of the World where the US is lifting free oil.

If AFRICOM ever lays boots on Nigerian soil, it would be because we opened the door with our shabby approach to each others welfare and the ease with which we toy with the future and rights of our children and their childrens children.

The US is already our biggest oil customer, so your story doesn't wash. The likes of Chevron are US companies as well.The only thing that upsets the US is if there is a threat to its business with Nigeria. There is no part of the World where the US is lifting free oil.

If AFRICOM ever lays boots on Nigerian soil, it would be because we opened the door with our shabby approach to each others welfare and the ease with which we toy with the future and rights of our children and their childrens children.

General Ham also told reporters that the pending withdrawal of American forces from Iraq and the reductions in American forces in Afghanistan might make larger numbers of Special Operations forces available to Africa Command. These could be deployed as trainers to nations on the continent.

“What we seek to enable are African solutions to African security challenges,” he said.

We need to be recolonized,America should come in,they can take all we have no problem,after 50 years of independence,have any of you here ever tasted the so called Oil money? NO GOOD ROAD,NO POWER,NO GOOD HEALTH FACILITY,THIS ARE JUST THE ONLY WAY WE CAN ENJOY OUR RESOURCES,YET WE DON'T HAVE ALL THESE,SO AFRICOM should come and take over then they can help us reorganised ourself. Anyone who is against American and AFRICOM coming to our rescue is our worst ENEMY and should be treated as a TERRORIST AS WELL.

Iwill Be the first person to support the aficom idea cos the folks in nigeria govt including the president have decide to gamble with the lives of nigerians by making nigerian an insecure nation.

One wonders where the over 600billion naira BUDGETED on security in the nigerian budget is going to, off course, into the pockets of the pres, governors and politicians, Its so sad that at a tiME AND age the police is yet to be equipeD with walkie -talkie and other sofisticated gadgets to fight crime.

aLSO , THE POOR AND FEARFUL NATURE OF THE POLICE IS NOT HELPING MATTERS As police refuse redeployment to troubles zone, loking for free money areas to go to.

My question now is in the light of the growing insecudirty inthe country ans the cluselessness of the govt in solving the hydra-headed problem it exigent that those with eperience in solving the problem take ove the scene even if it means AFICOM FLYING DRONES OVER NIGERA TO PREVENT NIGERIAN BEING ANOTHER PAKISTAN,

We need to be recolonized,America should come in,they can take all we have no problem,after 50 years of independence,have any of you here ever tasted the so called Oil money? NO GOOD ROAD,NO POWER,NO GOOD HEALTH FACILITY,THIS ARE JUST THE ONLY WAY WE CAN ENJOY OUR RESOURCES,YET WE DON'T HAVE ALL THESE,SO AFRICOM should come and take over then they can help us reorganised ourself. Anyone who is against American and AFRICOM coming to our rescue is our worst ENEMY and should be treated as a TERRORIST AS WELL.

you are the biggest dummy i ever encountered on nairaland. you have never benefited from the oil money ? silly man. ok lets kick some ballistics here. how many barrels of oil is pumped daily in nigeria ? maximum capacity is 3,000,000 barrels daily. $90 per barrel. ok so annually this is 3000000 * 365 * 90 = 98.5 billion dollars annually. there are 150 million nigerians so annually we ought to be entitled to $657 each annually. now i dont know about you but when i was in naija i got more than that annually from the govt and i wasnt an insider. ok first off all secondary schools are free (or were free). i went to a boarding school where we were fed 3 times a day, including fruits. we didnt pay tuition, we didnt pay for boarding, twas all free. all paid for by the govt. next we have all the civil servants in naija, who do you think pays their salary ? where you think the money come from ? next we have the army, who do you think pays all thir salary and buys all the equipments used ? then we have the police, then customs and immigration, all these people get their money from the govt and then spend it in the local economy thereby keeping the economy going. maybe your mum sells food in a buka, all these civil servants will spend their money their and hence she has recieved part of the oil money etc etc. abi where you just expecting the govt to call you because you are such a good looking person and hand you cash ? ole ajibole like yasef

when you were in primary school for free who you think paid the teachers and principal and maintained the school ? the govt. you still think you havent tasted the oil money ?

when you are in university in naija, how many lecturers do you think are in your university ? all the maintenance and stocking of the university nko ? how much you think it all cost ? who do you think paid for all these things ? how much did you pay in school tuition at OAU ? UI ? you still think you havent tasted the oil money ?

how much do you pay in taxes ? you pay road tax ? or you think 98 billion is enough to run a country and fix all the roads ? you people are all simpletons. the problem with you all is that if someone is not offering you free cash, they are incompetent in your eyes.

ok granted some people chop naijas money, but somehow i think you all exaggerate and inflate the effects of these chopulations. naija is not messed up because some govt officials are chopping money, naija is messed up because the indigenes dont like paying their way. OPARI. matter closed

when was the last time you voluntarily paid your rent or your nepa bill ? shyttt you cant even pay for that ill be scared to ask you to pay road tax and insurance and inheritance tax and capital gains tax and vendors license and tv license and water rate and property tax and council tax. shyttttt yall got it good and dont even know it

@beaf you are very silly and ignorant, one of the lazy dull nugerians who are cpontent to be brainwashed by mediia. This is not what our nationists fought for to be recolonised but youb are free to go buy foreign citizenship so you can become like the westerners who are slaves to their own govt.

@buzugee: YOUR A GOOD CANDIDATE FOR SACRIFICE,SO THIS IS WHAT YOU CALLED GOOD GOVERNANCE? FOR YOU ALL THESE PEOPLE YOU MENTION MEANS OUR OIL MONEY IS BEEN FELT BY EVERYONE IN THIS COUNTRY? YOUR REALLY A FOOL, I DON'T BLAME YOU,IS BECAUSE YOU HAVE NEVER GONE TO ANY COUNTRY AND SEE WHAT GOVERNMENT MEANS,MANY COUNTRIES AS POOR AS THE POOREST STATE IN NIGERIA IS 100 TIMES BETTER DEVELOPED THAN NIGERIA. IGNORANCE IS REALLY A DISEASE. I SEE THAT YOUR MOTHER CONCIEVED YOU FROM BEHIND AND DELIVER YOU FROM BEHIND TOO(HER ANUS)

French President Nicolas Sarkozy, center left, with Mustafa Abdel-Jalil, the leader of the interim administration, shaking hand with an injured man. The British prime minister David Cameron stood at the foot of the bed.

September 15, 2011Cameron and Sarkozy in Tripoli to Meet New Libyan LeadersBy ALAN COWELLLONDON — Prime Minister David Cameron of Britain and President Nicolas Sarkozy of France flew to Tripoli, Libya, on Thursday, pledging continued military, political and economic support for the country’s new leaders, including help in tracking down Col. Muammar el-Qaddafi.

The trip was the first to the Libyan capital by Western leaders since Colonel Qaddafi lost control of the city last month. Visiting a health center shortly after they arrived, Mr. Cameron and Mr. Sarkozy were surrounded by jubilant Libyans praising their role in pushing the Libyan dictator from power.

Both men called for Colonel Qaddafi’s arrest and trial. But, reflecting a broad fear among outsiders about the fragility and factionalism of the Libyan revolution and the possibility of score-settling and bloodshed in the post-Qaddafi era, both Western leaders urged Libya’s rebel administration to avoid reprisals against its adversaries.

Mr. Sarkozy said that there should be “no settling of accounts” and that “forgiveness should be shown by everybody.” Mr. Cameron and Mr. Sarkozy played a central role among the Western allies in pushing for a United Nations resolution in March that authorized a no-flight zone over Libya. Both Britain and France also participated in the NATO air campaign that destroyed much of Colonel Qaddafi’s military power as the rebels advanced from their eastern stronghold of Benghazi, Libya.

Both Mr. Cameron and Mr. Sarkozy said on Thursday that NATO airstrikes would continue, in Mr. Cameron’s words, “as long as necessary.”

They were speaking at a news conference alongside Mustafa Abdel-Jalil, the leader of the interim administration set up by the insurgents, and Mahmoud Jibril, the rebels’ de facto prime minister, who said Libya still needed NATO “protection for our civilians.”

Mr. Jibril said Britain had agreed to assist in the removal of land mines, and Mr. Cameron and Mr. Sarkozy said they would press for the release of billions of dollars worth of Libyan assets frozen under United Nations sanctions against Colonel Qaddafi.

But with Colonel Qaddafi still at large, Mr. Cameron said, “this is not finished, this is not done, this is not over.”

“We will help you find Qaddafi and bring him to justice,” Mr. Cameron said. He did not say how Britain would do that. Technically, NATO surveillance planes could be deployed to detect movements by or signals from Colonel Qaddafi.

British newspapers have reported that British Special Forces are on the ground in Libya, though the military does not generally comment on reports of such activity.

Referring to the former Libyan strongman, Mr. Cameron declared: “It’s time for him to give himself up” and face justice.

France was the first country to recognize the rebels and took credit for initiating airstrikes that halted a loyalist column closing in on Benghazi. Mr. Sarkozy and Mr. Cameron have since said those initial strikes prevented the thousands of deaths that would have occurred if pro-Qaddafi forces had entered the city.

Mr. Cameron’s visit was announced here only after he landed — a measure of continued concerns about security and with pro-Qaddafi forces still holding out in several towns in other parts of Libya. Colonel Qaddafi’s whereabouts remain a mystery.

The joint visit on Thursday was seen as offering significant symbolic support to Libya’s Transitional National Council days after its main leaders left Benghazi for the capital. It was also part of a high-stakes play by the two leaders to cast themselves as muscular champions of democracy while British and French business interests vie for opportunity in post-Qaddafi Libya.

François Baroin, the French finance minister, denied in a radio interview in Paris on Thursday that the visit to Tripoli was designed to drum up business deals or reconstruction contracts. He called the journey “a strong gesture.”

“It is a historic moment to go today to Libya,” he said. But asked whether there were economic motives, he replied, “We are not at that stage,” The Associated Press reported.

At the news conference in Tripoli, Mr. Sarkozy said there had been no “behind-the-scenes” agreements on reconstruction contracts. “We have asked for no preferences,” he said. “We have done what we did because we thought it was the right thing to do.”

The visit came three days after Mr. Abdel-Jalil, the insurgent leader, issued a passionate call for national reconciliation in the heart of Tripoli.

He spoke in the newly renamed Martyrs’ Square, which had been called Green Square when Colonel Qaddafi used it to address the nation. It was also where security forces shot protesters six months ago and set off the rebellion.

Since the uprising, Tripoli has played host to only a handful of international visitors, including President Jacob Zuma of South Africa, who spoke to Colonel Qaddafi as part of an unsuccessful attempt by the African Union bid to mediate a cease-fire and peace negotiations.

After the news conference on Thursday, Mr. Sarkozy and Mr. Cameron were to fly to Benghazi, where some insurgent leaders are still based.

@beaf you are very silly and ignorant, one of the lazy dull nugerians who are cpontent to be brainwashed by mediia. This is not what our nationists fought for to be recolonised but youb are free to go buy foreign citizenship so you can become like the westerners who are slaves to their own govt.

I wonder why people who cannot put a logical argument together bother to post. Aside from the childish abuse, you ended up saying absolutely nothing, so why did you bother?

@topicI will repeat that Nigerians are Nigeria's worst enemy. Afterall boko haram is a Nigerian thing, isnt it? Any country that hosts people that are so stup!d that they start up terrorist groups that threaten stronger nations is opening itself up to foreign interference. If boko haram blows up a foreign embassy tomorrow, it would be seen as an act of war by proxy.

the americans will hit you with a right hook and give you medicine with the left hand. you will remain their puppet after that. no escape. entertaining mini usa camps is not good at all for africa. africom is again the devil. they have literally killed our au.

Jesus !!!!! i cant believe people are buying into this crazy shyte about africa and some terror treat. this stup.id western countries invaded and install a terrorist group to run libya and now they trying to control the continent with fear, this is the same tactics the american president in the past wins election by creating fear, control and rule its people , otherwise known as tension of strategy and can be read here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strategy_of_tension

Reading beaf's analysis, i just wonder how some people can be soo full of $%^&*$

dont mind them - US presidential candidate for the green party - Cynthia Mckinney warned africans about AFRICOM over 3 years ago - everyone laughed at her - Gadaffi was the major stumblign block to this their africom project - house negro Jonathan has already given america the green light to deploy US troops on nigerian soil - i pray that the whole thing blows up in his face when he finds himself being toppled like mubarak:

We have the usual conspiracy theorists ranting about America in ways that don't make sense. All of that without giving us the conspiracy theorists PRACTICAL solution to wiping out boko haram. Instead, all we hear about is the tiring, "they."A few people have even introduced Libya into a boko haram matter, as if Libya is in Maiduguri or Yusuf and Buji Foi were a Libyans. Lets not keep pulling at drunken straws and offer PRACTICAL arguments that actually make sense to the boko haram problem.

Rubbish.

Boko haram is becoming a threat to other countries of the World and they are reacting with warning noises. Is that true or not? Its simple really.

before looking at ways to wipe out a problem you have to investigate where the problem is coming from and why you have it in the first place.

who are boko haram's backers - have you ever attempted to ask yourself that question? of course not because you are simply incapable of anything bodering on critical analysis

Africom has been in the works for a long time - well informed african americans like Cynthia McKinney and Danny Glover the actor as well as many other black activists have been warning about this project, perhaps you know something that Ms Mckinney doesnt know- i dont reckon with your attempt at political analysis because anyone who could look up to the likes of GEJ and now OBJ does not deserve to be taken seriously.

It is obvious that you have no clue about america's long track record of destabilising countries for their own economic and strategic gain - ive got news for you al qaeda was created by US intelligence - google Zbigniew Brzinski former national security advisor under Carter - it will help you to fill in the gaping holes in your understanding of geo politics and american foreign policy - boko haram is just another US sponsored terrorist organisation designed to fulfill america's prophecy of the disintegration of nigeria by 2015.

all the countries mentioned by the US general are countries that america has either a strategic interest in or has valuable natural resources:

algeria - oil nigeria - oilsomalia - gulf of aden - and important oil shipping route which lies to the north east of somalia

in addition america is intent on destabilisng all african countries with huge chinese investment in oil, its done that with libya, its next stop is nigeria and angola - nos 2 and 3 in oil production in africa respectively.why? because it does not want china to overtake them as an economic and military super power.

What PRACTICAL solutions to the boko haram issue do you conspiracy theorists have? Or is spreading baseless tales an end in itself? I don't get, what do you gain from picking up stuff from the road to nowhere? There is absolutely zero practicality in the stories you tell, that is why you have been unable to provide a single PRACTICAL suggestion.Surely, if you know the ins and outs of these mythical underground movements, you would be able to provide at least one suggestion to counter them. The one and only reason you haven't been able (and will never be able) to provide at least one PRACTICAL solution, is because your stories are 100% imaginary.

you are a delusional fool - first of all there is nothing the corrupt nigerian govt can do about boko haram because boko haram is a US intelligence sponsored organisation whose long term objective is to destabilise the entire country and hijack the govt just like what happened in libya - you are too dull to understand this because you know nothing about geopolitics and american foreign policy towards africa.

AFRICOM is now entering its next phase in the proposed recolonisation of africa - cant you get that through your thick head?

is nigeria ready to fight NATO? do you think that your dullard president has the balls to fight america and europe like gadaffi is currently doing?

all nigerian looter leaders are good at doing is begging and pleading - this can be seen from OBJ's pathetic attempt to stop boko haram's ongoing terrorist activities in nigeria.

its too late nigeria is in the grip of a terrorist cabal that is hell bent on the complete disintegration of nigeria as we know it, stop fantasising about finding practical solutions to a situation that is way out of the control of nigerian looter leaders.

Senior Al-Shabaab leaders said that the drone attacks were carried out early on Thursday in the outskirts of Kismayu town, killing nine women and children and wounding 30 others. Kismayu, which is located 528 kilometers south of Mogadishu, is the largest Somali port controlled by al-Shabab. Over the past few weeks, numerous US remote-controlled drones have crashed in Somalia. Somalia is the sixth country where the US military has used pilotless aircraft to conduct deadly bombing strikes.